Into the Wild (KingMaker AP)

Auril, the Frostmaiden, Icedawn, the Cold Goddess

Auril (pronounced AW-rill), also known as The Cold Goddess, The Frostmaiden, and Icedawn is a fickle, vain and evil deity, who is primarily venerated out of fear. She is most powerful in those regions that are affected by deep winters, in the brutal Lands of the Linnorm Kings and the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. Perhaps ironically, her worship is frowned upon in Irrisen, land of the winter witches- perhaps because Baba Yaga brooks no competitors in her land.

Auril was originally a fey noble known as Aurilandür the Frost Sprite Queen, sister to and sister-queen with Gloriana the Leaf Queen, mother of atomies. Aurilandür was corrupted by an unnamed gemstone which legendarily never looked the same to different people, constantly changing its appearance and consisting of a confusing combination of opposites- it was said to be so beautiful as to be ugly, so large it was small, so shiny it was dull, and weightless but heavy. After a failed attempt at a coup against her sister, Aurilandür was banished from the First World and became known as the Auril, the Frostmaiden. She slowly acquired a following on the material plane and established a home for herself on the Elemental Plane of Air.

Relationships
Auril opposes Sarenrae both for the sun goddess’s teachings on redemption and her elemental affiliation. She encourages her followers to disrupt the efforts of Sarenite clergy and champions.

Once a queen of the fey, Auril is often worshipped by winter fey on the rare occasions fey are inclined to worship a deity. The Eldest do not speak of her.

The Codicil of White
The Codicil is a magical book containing basic rites, rituals, services, and major ceremonies of Auril’s faith. The book also contains several pages devoted to the goddess’ favorite arcane magic. It was created as a tool for Aurilian wizards, witches, and sorcerers to gain a better understanding of the faith.

Worshipers
Sacrifices to the Frostmaiden are common, especially in the north among the people of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings and Realm of the Mammoth Lords, as people hope to appease her and thus avoid cripplingly cold winters.

Auril’s clergy is loosely organized, and the main goals of most followers is to intimidate common folk and make them venerate the Frostmaiden to avoid reprisals from her clergy, or to have them make donations to her church. Some of her powerful clerics have accumulated impressive personal wealth in this manner, some of which they sacrificed as offerings to Auril. Her priests wear ice white robes with blue trim, and are easily identified by the dire warnings they proclaim of the wrath of Auril come the winter. They are also known to cast cold based spells, many of which are described in the Codicil of White.

DogmaCover all the lands with ice. Quench fire wherever it is found. Let in the winds and the cold; cut down windbreaks and chop holes in walls and roofs that my breath may come in. Work in darkness to hide the cursed sun so that the chill I bring may slay. Take the life of an arctic creature only in great need, but slay others at will. Make all Golarion fear me.

Auril’s clergy are commanded to revere her and sing her praises into any chill breeze or winter wind. They are to make all creatures fear or worship her and to bring down her cold power against all so that all might know her and quake before her. They are not to raise their hands against any other cleric of Auril.

Titles / Ranks
Auril’s church has few males within its ranks; most clergy of the Frostmaiden are female. Specialty priests of Auril, called icepriestesses and icepriests, make up one-third of Auril’s priesthood. The relationship between the specialty priests and the clerics of Auril is very good. The church is very loosely and informally organized, and clergy members wander and are largely independent. Most priests of Auril use only the honorific “Hand of Auril” or “Icebreath,” but at temples such as the House of Auril’s Breath the clergy use formal titles. In ascending order, these are:

Orders
Auril’s church has no affiliated military or knightly orders. She is just not of a mind to sponsor prolonged military actions; she would rather send a blizzard down on those who offended her than troops. An odd assortment of cults and fellowships has grown up around or become attached to her worship, though. These groups included the Cult of Frost, whose driving goal is the acquisition of the artifact known as the Ring of Winter; a group known as the Frost Witches, who have recorded at least one tome of frost and cold magic in Auril’s name; and the Sisters of Istishia, who worshiped Istishia as a herald of cold and servant of Auril. The Sisters of Istishia’s worship seemed to benefit Istishia, not Auril, and some Aurilian priestesses are given a mandate to seek out the Sisters and “correct” their theology.

Holy Days
Midwinter Night. This is the most holy night of the year for the clergy, a festival of ice-dancing that lasts all night.
Last Storm (Vernal Equinox)
The Coming (Winter Solstice). Informal but enthusiastically celebrated rituals where priests gather and call howling ice storms down on a region to mark the onset and end of winter.